Business sheet having removable transfer means and method of making

ABSTRACT

A business sheet or the like carries image transfer means which is supported by a thin film or layer of tough flexible carrier material. The film or layer of carrier material is removably attached to the sheet and may be removed from the sheet before or after use of the transfer material. Thus, when desired, the transfer material is removed from the business sheet by removal of the carrier material and the business sheet is thus freed from the transfer material and from any problems which may be associated therewith.

ted States Patent [1 1 1969, abandoned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1936 Sherman etal 117/361 Paulsan et a1. Dec. 4, 1973 [54] BUSINESS SHEET HAVING REMOVABLE 2,503,680 4/1950 Newman 1l7/36.4 TRANSFER MEANS AND METHQD 0 2,508,725 5/1950 Newman 1l7/36.4 MAKING 2,984,582 5/1961 Newman et a1. 117/364 3,328,190 6/1967 Mathieu 117/364 [75] Inventors: William T. Paulson; David M, 3,458,339 7/1969 Newman 117/364 Davidson, both f Dayton, Ohio 2,790,742 4 1957 Wharton 117/364 3,386,847 6/1968 McDermott et a]. 117/364 [73] Asslgneez The Standard Register Company,

Dayton, Ohio Primary Examiner-Murray Katz Flledi J1me 1971 AttorneyJacox and Meckstroth [21] Appl. No.: 156,704

Related [15. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 800,167, Feb. 18,

A business sheet or the like carries image transfer means which is supported by a thin film or layer of tough flexible carrier material. The film or layer of carrier material is removably attached to the sheet and may be removed from the sheet before or after use of the transfer material. Thus, when desired, the transfer material is removed from the business sheet by removal of the carrier material and the business sheet is thus freed from the transfer material and from any problems which may be associated therewith.

53 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENIEDnEc 4 I975 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG-I I W FIG-2 W/ NR4 /e I) l4 PEG- INVENTORS WILLIAM T. PAULSON DAVID M. DAVIDSON A TTORNEYS BUSINESS SHEET HAVING REMOVABLE TRANSFER MEANS AND METHOD OF MAKING RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a continuation-in-part of copending Patent Application Ser. No. 800,167, filed Feb. 18, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A sheet of transfer paper, such as a sheet of carbon paper, comprising tissue or bond or the likeas a substrate, is well known as a transfer element between two record sheets or between two sheets of information carrying paper. However, numerous problems are involved in the production and use of such sheets of transfer paper or carbon paper. For example, costs of production of such carbonv paper are considerable. Also, the carbon paper is usually smudgy or dirty to handle. Furthermore, a sheet of carbonized paper has considerable thickness which adds to the thickness of a superposed set of record sheets.- The thickness ofthe carbon paper, therefore, reduces the capability of a pressure or impact member to apply information by pressure or impact througha large number of sheets in a multicopy set. Furthermore, such carbonized paper contributes to image distortion as a result of the fibrous nature of the paper.

It is an object ofthisinvention to provide a business sheet or the like which carries transfer material which is removable therefrom before or after. use of the transfer material for transfer of information to another sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of producing such a business sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide such transfer structure which produces high quality multicopy impressions.

It is another object of this invention to reduce the number of webs which must be collated in production of a unit to produce a given number of copies.

It is another object of this invention to provide means by which film coating and carbon coating can be applied in a single coating cycle.

It is another object of this invention to provide such structure and method which is relatively low in cost.

, Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of the business sheet, the method of production thereof, and the mode of operation thereupon, as will become more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sheet, such as a sheet of paper or the like, serves as support means for a film or layer applied thereto, such as a film or layer of plastics material, such as polyethylene orethylene copolymer or the like. The film or layer carries image transfer material such as carbon or the like. The sheet isadapted to have information applied thereto, the information being simultaneously applied to another sheet, which is in engagement therewith, by means of transfer of a limited portion of the image transfer material. In some cases, pressure is applied to the first sheet or support sheet for applying information to a second sheet by use of image transfer material supported by the first sheet but without application of the information by printing or the like, upon the first sheet. After application of information by means of the image transfer material, the film is removed from the support sheet, carrying therewith the remaining transfer material. Thus, a sheet is provided which carries information and which has transferred information, and the transfer means is removed following use thereof.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view, somewhat enlarged, of a sheet or substrate which forms a portion of the structure of this invention. I

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the substrate or sheet to which a carrier film or layer has been applied in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a transfer unit which includes the substrate or sheet with the film or layer applied thereto and with image transfer material appliedas a coating or layer to the carrier film or layer.

FIG. 4 is a sectional diagrammatic type of view illustrating the collating of a plurality ofthe transfer units of FIG. 3. This view also shows a receptor sheet below the superposed transfer units.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the elements of FIG. 4 arranged in superposed relationship as a. set and illustrating impressioning thereupon.

FIG. 6 is a sectional diagrammatic type of view, drawn on a much smaller scale than the other figures, illustrating an apparatus and a method by which the film and the transfer material carried thereby may be removed from the sheet or substrate.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating another method of separation of a film from a substrate.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a method of separation of a bonded film from a substrate and return of the film to the substrate, the film carrying image transfer material.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a method of separation of a bonded film from a substrateand movement of the film to another substrate, the film carrying image transfer material, the image transfer material being spaced from the substrate prior to separation therefrom, the image transfer material being adjacent the substrate to which the film with the transfer mate rial is moved.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, drawn on a smaller scale than FIGS. 8 and 9, illustrating a substrate having a film bonded thereto, the film carrying image transfer material, the substrate with the film and the image transfer material being in a helical roll.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the substrate, film, and transfer material of FIG. 10, but illustrating stripping of the film from the substrate as the film moves out of contact with the substrate and as the transfer material moves into engagement with the substrate.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view, drawn on a larger scale than FIGS. 10 and II, showing a superposed arrangement of film, transfer material, and substrate, the film carrying the transfer material. This figure also shows an impact or pressure member for applying an impression upon the film for transfer of an image through the transfer material to the substrate.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another modification of the structure of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A suitable support sheet or substrate III, such as a sheet of paper which is intended to carry information,

is shown in FIG. 1. The support sheet may be, for example, a sheet of bond paper or the like or any other suitable sheet of material. The sheet 10 may be a plain sheet or may be printed thereupon on either or both surfaces thereof, prior to becoming a part of a unit of this invention. The sheet 10 is deformable to the extent necessary to transmit pressure therethrough which is applied to a surface thereof.

A carrier film or layer 12 is applied to a surface of the support sheet 10 so that the sheet 10 with the carrier film 12 may appear in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The carrier film 12 is preferably tough, flexible, and somewhat resilient, and may be, for example, a material of the plastics class, such as polyethylene or polypropylene or an ethylene copolymer or a wax blend thereof, or the film material may consist of an asphalt based composition, or other suitable material.

The film 12 may cover a portion or portions of the sheet 10 or the entire surface of the sheet 10.

The film 12 may be attached to the sheet 10 in any suitable manner. The preferred method of attachment of the film 12 to the sheet is that of bonding. The term bonding" includes attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10 by application of pressure therebetween and- /or by application of heat thereto. Bonding" also includes attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10 by use of adhesive material or by mechanical means or the like. A relatively weak degree of bonding or attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10 is desirable. The desired degree of bonding may be controlled by various methods such as by controlling the magnitude of heat and/or pressure applied to the film 12 and/or the sheet 10. Other factors affecting the degree of bonding include the method of attachment, the composition of the carrier film 12, the composition of bonding material, the temperature of the carrier film 12 and of the sheet 10, surface conditions of the sheet 10 and the pressure of application of the carrier film 12 to the sheet 10. The sheet 10 may be treated with a light water spray or steam spray for dampening thereof immediately prior to application of the carrier film 12 to the sheet 10 to reduce or control the degree of bonding of the carrier film 12 to the sheet 10.

The carrier film 12 is preferably extruded upon the sheet 10 or coated thereupon by a blade coating process. Alternatively, the film 12 may constitute a separate sheet or strip or lamination which is brought into contact with the sheet 10 and attached thereto.

Attachment of the carrier film 12 to the sheet 10 may be over the entire mutual area or at any portion of the mutual area. For example, attachment may be at or along randomly or regularly spaced lines or spots or areas, or attachment may be only along one or more edges or margins of the carrier film 12.

The carrier film 12 is of a material which is sufficiently deformable for transmission of pressure therethrough which is applied to the sheet 10. Preferably, the thickness of the carrier film 12 upon the sheet 10 is very limited. The carrier film 12 is preferably in the order of 0.00025 to 0.0005 inches in thickness. How ever, films of other thicknesses are satisfactory. For example, films of thicknesses greater than .001 inch have been found to be suitable. Also, films having a thickness as low as 0.00015 have been found satisfactory. A film ofa dimension as set forth herein reduces the total thickness of a set of transfer sheets and permits high quality multiple copy impressions.

The sheet 10 thus serves as support means for the relatively thin carrier film 12, enabling the film 12 to be utilized in strip or web form without undue stretching or breaking of the film 12.

An image transfer layer or transfer-imaging layer 14, for example, a coating ofa carbon ink of the wax based, or solvent based, or plastisol type or the like is applied to the surface of the carrier film 12. Preferably, the image transfer layer 14 is applied to the carrier film 12 after the carrier film 12 is applied to the sheet 10. However, in some cases, the image transfer layer 14 may be applied to the carrier film 12 prior to attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10. The image transfer layer 14 may be applied to the carrier film 12 by a roll coating process or by a wire coating process or by a blade coating method or the like. The image transfer layer 14 may cover an entire surface of the carrier film 12 or only se lected portions or areas thereof.

The carrier film 12 may be applied over an entire side surface of the sheet 10 or may be applied to a portion or portions of the sheet 10, as stated above, in order to position image transfer material in a limited desired location or locations on a sheet 10. Thus, a unit 16 is produced which includes the sheet 10, the carrier film 12 and the image transfer material or layer 14 and may appear substantially as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates the process of collating a plurality of units 16 and a receptor sheet 20. The units 16 and the sheet 20 thus form a set or a unit set.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which information is applied to a unit or units 16 of the set. The receptor sheet 20 rests upon any suitable support structure 22. An impact or pressure member 24, such as a typewriter element or print element or the like, has an impression surface which engages the surface of the sheet 10 of the upper unit 16 and may print thereupon or may only apply image pressure thereupon. Usually, however, printing action occurs on the upper surface of the upper sheet 10 by image pressure of the member 24. When printing action occurs, any suitable inking means is disposed between the pressure member 24 and the upper surface of the upper sheet 10. Simultaneously, the image pressure is applied to the sheet 10, film 12, and transfer layer 14 in each of the lower positioned units 16 and the image pressure is applied to the receptor sheet 20. Thus, a portion of the transfer material moves from each image transfer layer 14 to the sheet 10 or 20 which is in engagement therewith, as illustrated in FlG. 5. Such portion of the image transfer layer 14 transferred may be a solid portion of the image transfer layer 14 or image transfer may involve release ofa portion ofa liquid ink contained in the image transfer layer 14.

Each unit 16 may be a continuous strip or web. Alternatively, each unit 16 may be an individual unit of suitable width and length dimensions.

Following impressioning or the application of information to superposed units 16 and to the sheet 20 in a manner such as that illustrated in FIG. 5, the units 16 and the sheet 20 are separated or decollated. Thus, individual units 16 and the sheet 20, as a separate sheet, are again provided.

Then each unit 16 is operated upon to separate the image transfer layer 14 from the sheet 10, by removal of the carrier film 12 from the sheet 10. Any suitable means and/or method may be used for separation of the carrier film 12 from the sheet 10. When each unit 16 is continuous, the unit 116 may be operated upon in a manner such as that illustrated in FIG. 6 for separation of the carrier film 12 from the sheet 10. A leading edge portion of the film or layer 12 is first separated from the sheet 10. Then the sheet 10 is moved in one direction, while the carrier film 12, with the image transfer layer 14 thereupon, is moved in another direction. Such action may be referred to as peeling action. A drum 26 may be used for such separation operation, as shown in FIG. 6. The carrier film 12 is thus removed from the sheet 10 as the sheet 10 moves forwardly from the drum 26, while the carrier film 12, with the image transfer layer 14 carried thereby, is moved downwardly from the drum 26 for separation of the carrier film l2 and the image transfer layer 14 from the sheet 10.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of units 16 may be assembled as a unit set, as the units 16 are collated in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Then after impressioning thereupon in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, the films 12 may be removed from the sheets 10 in substantially straight line movement, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. Such action may be referred to as shear action.

Separation of the carrier film 12 from the sheet 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6 or as illustrated in FIG. 7 may be performed manually or by machine and may be referred to as stripping action. The word strip, stripping, or strippable" as used in this application includes not only separation action by which there is angular peeling movement between the sheet 10 and the sheet 12, as illustrated in FIG. 6, but also includes separation by shearing action, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and also includes any other type of action by which separation of the film 12 from the sheet 10 occurs. Due to the fact that the attachment or bond of the carrier film 12 to the sheet 10 is relatively weak, as discussed above, the stripping or separating action illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 or by any other action or movement can be readily performed.

Thus, in summary, each sheet 10 serves as support means for a film 12 which carries image transfer material 14. The sheet 10 alsoserves as means through which pressure is transmitted to the film 12 and to the image transfer material 14 for transfer of a portion of the image transfer material 14 to a subjacent sheet or surface. Then after use of the sheet 10 as a carrier means and as means through which image pressure is transmitted, the transfer material 14 is removed from the sheet 10 by removal of the film 12 from the sheet 10. Thus, an information business form is produced which'is free from transfer material. Printing may be applied to the sheet 10 before, during, or after use of the sheet 10 as a means through which image pressure is transmitted.

The structure of this invention is capable of producing excellent image transfer by pressure. The thickness ofa unit 16, including a sheet 10, a carrier film l2, and an image transfer layer 14 is considerably less than the thickness of a sheet 10 and a separate tissue type of carbon paper or transfer sheet having a carbon or the like carried thereby. Furthermore, physical characteristics ofa thin carrier film 12 having a layer of transfer material, such as set forth above, permit better image transfer therethrough by pressure than is possible by the use of a sheet of conventional carbon paper. Thus, a multiplicity of excellent copies may be made simultaneously in the use of structure of this invention.

The cost of a set of units made according to this invention is considerably less than that of a conventional set of forms in which transfer sheets are interposed between record sheets.

FIG. 8

FIG. 8 shows a modification in the structure of this invention in which a sheet has a film 52 releasably bonded thereto in the manner set forth above with respect to the sheet 10 and the film 12. As the film 52 is attached to the sheet 50 for support thereby, a layer of image transfer material 54, similar to the layer of image transfer material 14, discussed above, is applied to the film 52. The bonding of the film 52 to the sheet 50 is sufficient to prevent inadvertent stripping of the film 52 from the sheet 50 during application of the image transfer material 54 to the film 52.

At the left-hand portion of FIG. 8, the film 52 is releasably bonded to the sheet 50. However, as the sheet 50, with the film 52 and the layer of image transfer material 54 moves to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the film 52 is stripped or separated from the sheet 50 by a wedge 56, or the like. Then, the film 52, carrying the layer of transfer material 54, is returned to engagement with the sheet 50, by any suitable means, such as a roller 58 or the like. The film 52, carrying the layer of image transfer material 54, is thus in a position to receive image pressure transmitted through the sheet 50. Thus, image pressure is transmitted through the sheet 50, the film 52 and the transfer material 54 after removal of the bonded relationship between the sheet 50 and the film 52, rather than prior to such removal of the bonded relationship. Thus, after transmission of image pressure through the sheet 50, the film 52, and the transfer material 54, for transfer of a portion of the image transfer material, separation of the film 52 and the transfer material 54 from the sheet 50 occurs by a conventional type of decollating action, not shown, as distinguished from stripping action, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9

FIG. 9 shows a sheet 60 to which a film 62 is releasably bonded. The film 62 is similar to the film 12 and carries transfer material 64, similar to the transfer material 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, by relative movement between the sheet and a wedge 66, the film 62 is stripped or separated from the sheet 60 and carries the layer of transfer material 64 therewith.

Then the film 62, carrying the layer of transfer material 64, is moved to a sheet 68 which is movably supported by any suitable means, such as a roll 70. Thus, the sheet 68 supports the film 62 and the layer of transfer material 64. However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the layer of transfer material 64, rather than the film 62, moves into engagement with the sheet 68. Thus, the film 62, the layer of transfer material 64 and the sheet 68 appear as illustrated in FIG. 12. In some situations the layer of transfer material 64 is releasably bonded to the sheet 68.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the sheet 68 may rest upon any suitable support member, such as a member 72, for impressioning by an impact or pressure member 74. Thus, pressure is applied to the transfer material 64 and an image is applied to the upper surface of the. sheet 68, without the need of a separate print ribbon or the like.

Such structure is particularly advantageous in high speed printer operation and the like. Furthermore, the transfer material 64 after application to the sheet 68, is covered by the film 62 and the transfer material 64 is thus prevented from smudging.

FIGS. 10 and 11 FIG. 10 shows an elongate sheet 80 which has a film 82 releasably bonded thereto. The film 82 carries a layer of transfer material 84. The sheet 80 with the film 82 and the layer of transfer material 84 is in a coil or roll upon a spool 86 and is shown extending therefrom. In order to cause the sheet 80 to carry the layer of transfer material 84 directly thereupon, with the film 82 protecting the layer of transfer material 84, a procedure illustrated in FIG. 11 is employed.

The film 82 is stripped from the lower surface of the sheet 80, as the sheet 80 extends from the coil thereof shown in FIG. 10. The film 82 is first stripped from the lower portion of the sheet 80 and in a clockwise direction along the outer portion of the coil to the position illustrated in FIG. 11. Then the layer of transfer material 84 is laid upon the upper surface of sheet 80, as illustrated in FIG. 11, and then the sheet 80 and the film 82, carrying the transfer material 84, are drawn from the coil thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 11. As this movement of the sheet 80 with the layer of transfer material 84 in engagement therewith occurs, the film 82 is stripped from the sheet 80, as illustrated in FIG. 11. In this manner, the sheet 80, the layer of transfer material 84 and the film 82 may appear as illustrated in FIG. 12, with respect to the sheet 68, the layer of transfer material 64 and the film 62. In this manner, impressioning may be applied to the sheet 80 through the film 82 and the transfer material 84, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12, with respect to the sheet 68, the layer of transfer material 64, and the film 62. If desired, the layer of transfer material 84 may be bonded to the upper surface of the sheet 80.

FIG. 13 shows a substrate 90, which may be a sheet or strip or the like. A layer of transfer material 92 lies on the upper surface of the substrate 90. Immediately above the layer of transfer material 92 is a film or carrier 94, and immediately above the film 94 is a layer of transfer material 96.

Structure such as shown in FIG. 13 can be produced by the procedures shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11, by which a layer of transfer material which is carried by a film is laid upon a sheet as the film is stripped from another sheet or the same sheet.

Preferably, the layer of transfer material 92 is releasably bonded to the substrate 90, at least at limited spots or areas 98, after being laid upon the substrate 90 or while being laid upon the substrate 90. Then, as the substrate 90, the layer 92 and the film 94 are attached together, a layer of transfer material 96 is applied to the upper surface of the film 94.

The structure shown in FIG. 13 is used to form sets in which another record sheet may be positioned upon the layer 96 for application of transfer material thereto from the layer 96 as pressure is applied toward the overlying sheet. The substrate 90 is adapted to receive transfer material from the layer 92 as pressure is applied toward the substrate 90.

Although the preferred embodiments of the structure have been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and methods of production, which generally stated consist in structure and methods capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. A business form assembly comprising:

a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material,

a thin carrier layer of flexible material overlying said base sheet, the carrier layer of flexible material being releasably bonded to the base sheet along the entire contacting area,

a layer of pressure-responsive transfer-imaging material carried by the carrier layer in overlying relationship thereto, the transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied,

said transfer-imaging material being transferable to a receptor surface which is in contact with the layer of transfer-imaging material in response to the application of pressure to the base sheet as the pressure is transmitted through the base sheet and through the carrier layer to the transfer-imaging material,

the carrier layer of flexible material being releasably strippable from attachment to said base sheet for removing the layer of transfer-imaging material and the carrier layer of flexible material from the base sheet after transfer occurs.

2. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer comprises a film.

3. The business form assembly of claim 2 wherein the film comprises plastics material.

4. The business form assembly of claim 3 wherein the plastics material comprises polyethylene.

5. The business form assembly of claim 3 wherein the plastics material comprises ethylene copolymer.

6. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer comprises an asphalt-based composition.

7. The business form assembly of claim 1 in which the carrier layer comprises a film which includes polypropylene.

8. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer comprises a film including a blend of polypropylene and wax.

9. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer has a thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch.

10. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the base sheet comprises a continuous strip.

11. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the base sheet and the carrier layer each comprises a continuous strip.

12. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the layer of transfer-imaging material comprises a coating which includes carbon.

13. The business form assembly of claim I wherein the carrier layer is releasably bonded to the base sheet over the entire area of one side surface of the carrier layer.

14. The business form assembly of claim 1 which includes a second sheet overlying the transfer-imaging layer, only a portion of the carrier layer having transfer-imaging material carried thereby, another portion of the carrier layer being bonded to a portion of the second sheet to effect attachment of the base sheet to the second sheet.

15. A business form assembly comprising:

a sheet of paper material,

a thin film of plastics material overlying the sheet of paper material and releasably bonded thereto along the entire contacting area,

a coating of transfer-imaging material including carbon carried by the film of plastics material in overlying relationship thereto, the transfer-imaging material being transferable to a receptor surface in contact with the coating of transfer-imaging material in response to the application of pressure to the sheet of paper material as the pressure is transmitted through the film of plastics material to the coating of transfer-imaging material, the transfer- -imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied,

the film of plastics material being strippable from the sheet of paper material for removing the coating of transfer-imaging material and the film of plastics material from the sheet of paper material after transfer occurs.

16. A business form assembly comprising:

a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material,

a thin layer of carrier material underlying the base sheet, the carrier layer being releasably bonded to the base sheet along the entirecontacting area, layer of pressure-sensitive transfer-imaging material carried by the layer of carrier material in underlying relationship thereto, the transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied, receptor sheet underlying the layer of transferimaging material and forming a receptor surface for receiving transfer-imaging material which is transferable to the receptor sheet in response to the application of pressure to the base sheet, as the pressure is transmitted through the base sheet, through the layer of carrier material, and to the transfer-imaging material,

the layer of carrier material being releasable from attachment to the base sheet for removing the layer of pressure-sensitive transfer-imaging material and the layer of carrier material from the base sheet after transfer occurs.

17. A method of producing a business form unit comprising the steps of:

releasably bonding a thin layer of flexible carrier material to a pressure-transmittable base sheet, the layer of flexible carrier material being releasably bonded to the base sheet along the entire contacting area, applying a layer of pressure-sensitive transferimaging material to the layer of flexible carrier material, the transfer-imaging material being transferable to a receptor surface contacting the transferimaging material in response to pressure applied to the transfer-imaging material through the pressuretransmittable base sheet and through the layer of flexible carrier material, the layer of pressuresensitive transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied,

the layer of flexible carrier material being releasably strippable from the base sheet for removing the layer of transfer-imaging material from the base sheet after transfer of the transfer-image material to a receptor surface has occurred.

18. The method of claim 17 in which the layer of flexible carrier material comprises a film of plastics material.

19. The method of claim 17 in which the transferimaging material includes carbon.

20. The method of claim 17 in which the layer of flexible carrier material is releasably bonded to the base sheet over the entire area of one side surface of the layer of flexible carrier material.

21. The method of claim 17 in which a surface of the base sheet is moistened prior to application of the layer of flexible carrier material thereto to provide releasable bonding of the layer of carrier material to the base sheet.

22. The method of claim 17 in which the layer of flexible carrier material is applied as a coating.

23. A business form assembly comprising a plurality of sheets arranged in superposed relationship and including a pressure-transmittable upper sheet, a lower sheet, and a pressure-transmittable intermediate sheet between the upper sheet and the lower sheet,

a thin film of carrier material releasably bonded to the lower surface of the upper sheet along the entire contacting area,

a thin film of carrier matrial releasably bonded to the lower surface of the intermediate sheet along the entire contacting area,

a layer of pressure-responsive transfer-imaging material carried by each of the films of carrier material, the transfer-imaging material of each layer thereof being transferable to the sheet which is adjacent thereto in response to the application of pressure to the upper sheet, transfer-imaging material thus being transferred to the intermediate sheet and to the lower sheet, the transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of pressure applied,

each film of carrier material being strippable from the sheet to which it is attached after transfer of transfer-imaging material has occurred.

24. A business form assembly comprising:

a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material,

a thin carrier layer of flexible material underlying at least a portion of said base sheet, a substantial area of the carrier layer being releasably bonded to the base sheet,

a layer of pressure-responsive image transfer material carried by the carrier layer and underlying at least a portion thereof,

said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface which is in contact with the layer of image transfer material in response to the formation of pressure applied to the base sheet as the pressure is transmitted through the base sheet and through the carrier layer to the image transfer material,

the carrier layer of flexible material being strippable from attachment to said base sheet for removing the layer of image transfer material and the carrier layer of flexible material from the base sheet.

25. A business form assembly comprising:

a sheet of paper material,

a thin film of plastics material underlying at least a portion of the sheet of paper material and having a substantial area releasably bonded thereto,

a coating of image transfer material including carbon carried by the film of plastics material and underlying at least a portion thereof, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface in contact with the coating of image transfer material in response to the formation of pressure applied to the sheet of paper material as the pressure is transmitted through the film of plastics material to the coating of image transfer material,

the film of plastics material being strippable from the sheet of paper material for removing the coating of image transfer material and the film of plastics material from the sheet of paper material.

26. A business form assembly comprising:

a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material,

a thin layer of carrier material underlying at least a portion of the base sheet, a substantial portion of the carrier layer being releasably bonded to the base sheet,

a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material carried by the layer of carrier material and underlying at least a portion thereof, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied,

a receptor sheet underlying the layer of image transfer material and forming a receptor surface for receiving the formation of transfer-imaging material in response to the application of pressure to the base sheet,

the layer of carrier material being releasable from attachment to the base sheet for removing the layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material and the layer of carrier material from the base sheet.

27. A business form-like article comprising:

a base sheet of flexible paper-like material,

a thin layer of flexible carrier material releasably bonded to the base sheet,

a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material carried by the layer of flexible carrier material and transferable in image formation in response to pressure applied thereto, and

the layer of carrier material being strippable from the base sheet for removing the layer of image transfer material from the base sheet.

28. The article of claim 27 in which the thin layer of flexible carrier material has a thickness dimension of between 0.00015 inch and 0.00l inch.

image formation to a receptor surface contacting 6 said image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to said layer of image transfer material.

30. A business form article comprising:

a base sheet of paper-like material,

a pressure sensitive image transfer material,

a bonding layer for releasably bonding said image transfer material to said base sheet over the entire area of said image transfer material,

said bonding layer being strippable from said base sheet for removing said image transfer material from said base sheet, and

said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a paper receptor sheet contacting said image transfer material in response to pressure of a given formation applied to said base sheet.

31. A business form article comprising:

a support element,

a pressure-sensitive image transfer material,

a thin flexible film-like material disposed between said support element and said image transfer material and releasably bonding said image transfer material to said support element,

said film-like material being strippable from said support element for removing said image transfer material from said support element, and

said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting said image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to said support element.

32. A business form article comprising:

a plurality of sheets arranged in superposed relationship and including a pressure-transmittable upper sheet, a lower sheet, and at least one pressuretransmittable intermediate sheet between the upper sheet and the lower sheet,

a thin film of carrier material underlying at least a portion of the upper sheet,

a film of carrier material underlying at least a portion of the intermediate sheet,

each of said films being formed by releasably coating said carrier material on the corresponding said sheet, and each of said films being strippable from the sheet on which it is coated, and

a layer of pressure-responsive image transfer material carried by at least a portion of each of the films of carrier material, the image transfer material of each layer thereof being transferable in image formation to an adjacent sheet in response to the application of a corresponding formation of pressure to the upper sheet.

33. A business form article comprising:

a flexible base sheet,

a thin film of flexible plastics material releasably bonded to said base sheet,

a coating of image transfer material carried by said film and being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface in response to a corresponding formation of pressure, and

said film of plastics material being strippable from said base sheet for releasing said image transfer material from said base sheet.

34. A method of producing a business form article comprising the steps of:

releasably coating a film of carrier material onto a support element to form a film thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch,

surface coating a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material onto at least a portion of the film of carrier material, a substantial portion of the image transfer material within an image formation being transferable to a receptor surface contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through said film of carrier material,

stripping the combined said film of carrier material and said layer of image transfer material from said support element, and

directing the film'of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material into engagement with a record sheet of flexible paper-like material.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of stripping comprises shearing said layer of transfer material from said base sheet.

36. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said film of carrier material is releasably coated onto said support element to form a film thickness substantially less than 0.0005 inch.

37. A method as defined in claim 34 including the step of directing the combined film of carrier material and said layer of image transfer material onto a flexible sheet of paper-like material after said film is stripped from said support element.

38. A method as defined in claim 37 wherein said combined film of carrier material and said layer of image transfer material are arranged so that said layer of image transfer material engages said sheet of paperlike material.

39. A method of producing a business form article, comprising the steps of:

releasably bonding a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material on a flexible paper-like base sheet with a thin film of carrier material so that the layer of image transfer material is supported by the base sheet in superposed adjacent relation to the base sheet,

stripping the film of carrier material and the attached layer of image transfer material from the base sheet,

directing the stripped film of carrier material and the attached layer of image transfer material back into engagement with the base sheet for supporting the film and layer of image transfer material, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting the layer of image transfer material in response to the application of a corresponding formation of pressure to the layer of image transfer material through the film of carrier material.

40. The method of claim 39 including the step of locating the layer of transfer image material between the film and the base sheet asthe film and layer of transfer image material are directed onto the base sheet.

41. A method as defined in claim 39 wherein said film of carrier. material has a thickness less than 0.0005 inch.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein the base sheet, the film and the layer of transfer material are in the form of a roll, said film with the layer of transfer material being stripped from the roll and immediately directed back onto said base sheet.

43. The method of claim 41 including the step of locating the layer of transfer image material between the film and said base sheet.

44. A method of producing a business form article, comprising the steps of:

releasably coating a thin film of carrier material onto a flexible base support element,

applying a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material to the film, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through the film of carrier material,

stripping the film and the attached layer of image transfer material from the base support element, and

directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material from the stripping operation onto a record sheet of flexible paper-like material to provide continued support of the film and layer of image transfer material.

45. The method of claim 44 including the step of locating the layer of transfer image material between the film and said record sheet.

46. A method as defined in claim 44 wherein said step of stripping is performed before an image formation of said image transfer material is transferred to the receptor surface.

47. A method as defined in claim 44 wherein said film of carrier material has a thickness less than 0.0005 inch.

48. A method of producing a business form article, comprising the steps of:

releasably coating a film of plastics material onto a base support element to form a film thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch,

surface coating a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material onto one side of the film of plastics material, the layer of image transfer material being distinct from the attached said film and being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through the film of plastics material,

stripping the combined said film of plastics material and said layer of image transfer material from said base support element, and

directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer-material into engagement with a record sheet of flexible paper-like material.

49. A method of producing a business form unit including a pressure-transmittable base sheet and at least one copy sheet, comprising the steps of:

releasably coating a thin layer of flexible carrier material upon the base sheet so that the layer of flexible carrier material is carried by the base sheet in superposed relation and is strippable from the base sheet,

applying a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material to at least a portion of the layer of flexible carrier material, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to the copy sheet contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through the base sheet and the layer of flexible carrier material,

stripping the layer of carrier material from said base sheet before the image formation is transferred, and

directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material into engagement with a record sheet of flexible paper-like material.

50. A method as defined in claim 49 wherein said layer of carrier material has a thickness less than 0.0005 inch.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said step of stripping comprises shearing said film of carrier material from said base sheet.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein said step of stripping comprises peeling said film of carrier material from said base sheet.

53. A business form article comprising:

a plurality of paper-like sheets arranged in superposed relation and including a pressuretransmittable upper sheet and a lower receptor sheet,

a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material,

film means for releasably bonding said layer of image transfer material to one of said sheets and for supporting said layer of image transfer material in direct adjacent relation to said one sheet,

said film means being strippable from said one sheet for releasing said image transfer material therefrom, and

said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to said lower receptor sheet contacting said image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to said upper sheet. 

2. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer comprises a film.
 3. The business form assembly of claim 2 wherein the film comprises plastics material.
 4. The business form assembly of claim 3 wherein the plastics material comprises polyethylene.
 5. The business form assembly of claim 3 wherein the plastics material comprises ethylene copolymer.
 6. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer comprises an asphalt-based composition.
 7. The business form assembly of claim 1 in which the carrier layer comprises a film which includes polypropylene.
 8. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer comprises a film including a blend of polypropylene and wax.
 9. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer has a thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch.
 10. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the base sheet comprises a continuous strip.
 11. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the base sheet and the carrier layer each comprises a continuous strip.
 12. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the layer of transfer-imaging material comprises a coating which includes carbon.
 13. The business form assembly of claim 1 wherein the carrier layer is releasably bonded to the base sheet over the entire area of one side surface of the carrieR layer.
 14. The business form assembly of claim 1 which includes a second sheet overlying the transfer-imaging layer, only a portion of the carrier layer having transfer-imaging material carried thereby, another portion of the carrier layer being bonded to a portion of the second sheet to effect attachment of the base sheet to the second sheet.
 15. A business form assembly comprising: a sheet of paper material, a thin film of plastics material overlying the sheet of paper material and releasably bonded thereto along the entire contacting area, a coating of transfer-imaging material including carbon carried by the film of plastics material in overlying relationship thereto, the transfer-imaging material being transferable to a receptor surface in contact with the coating of transfer-imaging material in response to the application of pressure to the sheet of paper material as the pressure is transmitted through the film of plastics material to the coating of transfer-imaging material, the transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied, the film of plastics material being strippable from the sheet of paper material for removing the coating of transfer-imaging material and the film of plastics material from the sheet of paper material after transfer occurs.
 16. A business form assembly comprising: a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material, a thin layer of carrier material underlying the base sheet, the carrier layer being releasably bonded to the base sheet along the entire contacting area, a layer of pressure-sensitive transfer-imaging material carried by the layer of carrier material in underlying relationship thereto, the transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied, a receptor sheet underlying the layer of transfer-imaging material and forming a receptor surface for receiving transfer-imaging material which is transferable to the receptor sheet in response to the application of pressure to the base sheet, as the pressure is transmitted through the base sheet, through the layer of carrier material, and to the transfer-imaging material, the layer of carrier material being releasable from attachment to the base sheet for removing the layer of pressure-sensitive transfer-imaging material and the layer of carrier material from the base sheet after transfer occurs.
 17. A method of producing a business form unit comprising the steps of: releasably bonding a thin layer of flexible carrier material to a pressure-transmittable base sheet, the layer of flexible carrier material being releasably bonded to the base sheet along the entire contacting area, applying a layer of pressure-sensitive transfer-imaging material to the layer of flexible carrier material, the transfer-imaging material being transferable to a receptor surface contacting the transfer-imaging material in response to pressure applied to the transfer-imaging material through the pressure-transmittable base sheet and through the layer of flexible carrier material, the layer of pressure-sensitive transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied, the layer of flexible carrier material being releasably strippable from the base sheet for removing the layer of transfer-imaging material from the base sheet after transfer of the transfer-image material to a receptor surface has occurred.
 18. The method of claim 17 in which the layer of flexible carrier material comprises a film of plastics material.
 19. The method of claim 17 in which the transfer-imaging material includes carbon.
 20. The method of claim 17 in which the layer of flexible carrier material is releasably bonded to the base sheet over the entire area of one side surface of the layer of flexible carrier material.
 21. The method of claim 17 in which a surface of the bAse sheet is moistened prior to application of the layer of flexible carrier material thereto to provide releasable bonding of the layer of carrier material to the base sheet.
 22. The method of claim 17 in which the layer of flexible carrier material is applied as a coating.
 23. A business form assembly comprising a plurality of sheets arranged in superposed relationship and including a pressure-transmittable upper sheet, a lower sheet, and a pressure-transmittable intermediate sheet between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, a thin film of carrier material releasably bonded to the lower surface of the upper sheet along the entire contacting area, a thin film of carrier matrial releasably bonded to the lower surface of the intermediate sheet along the entire contacting area, a layer of pressure-responsive transfer-imaging material carried by each of the films of carrier material, the transfer-imaging material of each layer thereof being transferable to the sheet which is adjacent thereto in response to the application of pressure to the upper sheet, transfer-imaging material thus being transferred to the intermediate sheet and to the lower sheet, the transfer-imaging material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of pressure applied, each film of carrier material being strippable from the sheet to which it is attached after transfer of transfer-imaging material has occurred.
 24. A business form assembly comprising: a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material, a thin carrier layer of flexible material underlying at least a portion of said base sheet, a substantial area of the carrier layer being releasably bonded to the base sheet, a layer of pressure-responsive image transfer material carried by the carrier layer and underlying at least a portion thereof, said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface which is in contact with the layer of image transfer material in response to the formation of pressure applied to the base sheet as the pressure is transmitted through the base sheet and through the carrier layer to the image transfer material, the carrier layer of flexible material being strippable from attachment to said base sheet for removing the layer of image transfer material and the carrier layer of flexible material from the base sheet.
 25. A business form assembly comprising: a sheet of paper material, a thin film of plastics material underlying at least a portion of the sheet of paper material and having a substantial area releasably bonded thereto, a coating of image transfer material including carbon carried by the film of plastics material and underlying at least a portion thereof, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface in contact with the coating of image transfer material in response to the formation of pressure applied to the sheet of paper material as the pressure is transmitted through the film of plastics material to the coating of image transfer material, the film of plastics material being strippable from the sheet of paper material for removing the coating of image transfer material and the film of plastics material from the sheet of paper material.
 26. A business form assembly comprising: a base sheet of pressure-transmittable material, a thin layer of carrier material underlying at least a portion of the base sheet, a substantial portion of the carrier layer being releasably bonded to the base sheet, a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material carried by the layer of carrier material and underlying at least a portion thereof, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation in accordance with the formation of the pressure applied, a receptor sheet underlying the layer of image transfer material and forming a receptor surface for receiving the formation of transfer-imaging material in response to the aPplication of pressure to the base sheet, the layer of carrier material being releasable from attachment to the base sheet for removing the layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material and the layer of carrier material from the base sheet.
 27. A business form-like article comprising: a base sheet of flexible paper-like material, a thin layer of flexible carrier material releasably bonded to the base sheet, a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material carried by the layer of flexible carrier material and transferable in image formation in response to pressure applied thereto, and the layer of carrier material being strippable from the base sheet for removing the layer of image transfer material from the base sheet.
 28. The article of claim 27 in which the thin layer of flexible carrier material has a thickness dimension of between 0.00015 inch and 0.001 inch.
 29. A business form article comprising: a flexible base sheet, a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material, a bonding layer for releasably bonding said layer of image transfer material to said base sheet and for supporting said layer of image transfer material in direct underlying relation to said base sheet, said bonding layer being strippable from said base sheet for releasing said image transfer material from said base sheet, and said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting said image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to said layer of image transfer material.
 30. A business form article comprising: a base sheet of paper-like material, a pressure sensitive image transfer material, a bonding layer for releasably bonding said image transfer material to said base sheet over the entire area of said image transfer material, said bonding layer being strippable from said base sheet for removing said image transfer material from said base sheet, and said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a paper receptor sheet contacting said image transfer material in response to pressure of a given formation applied to said base sheet.
 31. A business form article comprising: a support element, a pressure-sensitive image transfer material, a thin flexible film-like material disposed between said support element and said image transfer material and releasably bonding said image transfer material to said support element, said film-like material being strippable from said support element for removing said image transfer material from said support element, and said image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting said image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to said support element.
 32. A business form article comprising: a plurality of sheets arranged in superposed relationship and including a pressure-transmittable upper sheet, a lower sheet, and at least one pressure-transmittable intermediate sheet between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, a thin film of carrier material underlying at least a portion of the upper sheet, a film of carrier material underlying at least a portion of the intermediate sheet, each of said films being formed by releasably coating said carrier material on the corresponding said sheet, and each of said films being strippable from the sheet on which it is coated, and a layer of pressure-responsive image transfer material carried by at least a portion of each of the films of carrier material, the image transfer material of each layer thereof being transferable in image formation to an adjacent sheet in response to the application of a corresponding formation of pressure to the upper sheet.
 33. A business form article comprising: a flexible base sheet, a thin film of flexible plastics material releAsably bonded to said base sheet, a coating of image transfer material carried by said film and being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface in response to a corresponding formation of pressure, and said film of plastics material being strippable from said base sheet for releasing said image transfer material from said base sheet.
 34. A method of producing a business form article comprising the steps of: releasably coating a film of carrier material onto a support element to form a film thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch, surface coating a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material onto at least a portion of the film of carrier material, a substantial portion of the image transfer material within an image formation being transferable to a receptor surface contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through said film of carrier material, stripping the combined said film of carrier material and said layer of image transfer material from said support element, and directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material into engagement with a record sheet of flexible paper-like material.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of stripping comprises shearing said layer of transfer material from said base sheet.
 36. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said film of carrier material is releasably coated onto said support element to form a film thickness substantially less than 0.0005 inch.
 37. A method as defined in claim 34 including the step of directing the combined film of carrier material and said layer of image transfer material onto a flexible sheet of paper-like material after said film is stripped from said support element.
 38. A method as defined in claim 37 wherein said combined film of carrier material and said layer of image transfer material are arranged so that said layer of image transfer material engages said sheet of paper-like material.
 39. A method of producing a business form article, comprising the steps of: releasably bonding a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material on a flexible paper-like base sheet with a thin film of carrier material so that the layer of image transfer material is supported by the base sheet in superposed adjacent relation to the base sheet, stripping the film of carrier material and the attached layer of image transfer material from the base sheet, directing the stripped film of carrier material and the attached layer of image transfer material back into engagement with the base sheet for supporting the film and layer of image transfer material, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting the layer of image transfer material in response to the application of a corresponding formation of pressure to the layer of image transfer material through the film of carrier material.
 40. The method of claim 39 including the step of locating the layer of transfer image material between the film and the base sheet as the film and layer of transfer image material are directed onto the base sheet.
 41. A method as defined in claim 39 wherein said film of carrier material has a thickness less than 0.0005 inch.
 42. The method of claim 39 wherein the base sheet, the film and the layer of transfer material are in the form of a roll, said film with the layer of transfer material being stripped from the roll and immediately directed back onto said base sheet.
 43. The method of claim 41 including the step of locating the layer of transfer image material between the film and said base sheet.
 44. A method of producing a business form article, comprising the steps of: releasably coating a thin film of carrier material onto a flexible base support element, applying a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material to the film, the image transfer materiaL being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through the film of carrier material, stripping the film and the attached layer of image transfer material from the base support element, and directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material from the stripping operation onto a record sheet of flexible paper-like material to provide continued support of the film and layer of image transfer material.
 45. The method of claim 44 including the step of locating the layer of transfer image material between the film and said record sheet.
 46. A method as defined in claim 44 wherein said step of stripping is performed before an image formation of said image transfer material is transferred to the receptor surface.
 47. A method as defined in claim 44 wherein said film of carrier material has a thickness less than 0.0005 inch.
 48. A method of producing a business form article, comprising the steps of: releasably coating a film of plastics material onto a base support element to form a film thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch, surface coating a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material onto one side of the film of plastics material, the layer of image transfer material being distinct from the attached said film and being transferable in image formation to a receptor surface contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through the film of plastics material, stripping the combined said film of plastics material and said layer of image transfer material from said base support element, and directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material into engagement with a record sheet of flexible paper-like material.
 49. A method of producing a business form unit including a pressure-transmittable base sheet and at least one copy sheet, comprising the steps of: releasably coating a thin layer of flexible carrier material upon the base sheet so that the layer of flexible carrier material is carried by the base sheet in superposed relation and is strippable from the base sheet, applying a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material to at least a portion of the layer of flexible carrier material, the image transfer material being transferable in image formation to the copy sheet contacting the image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to the image transfer material through the base sheet and the layer of flexible carrier material, stripping the layer of carrier material from said base sheet before the image formation is transferred, and directing the film of carrier material and the layer of image transfer material into engagement with a record sheet of flexible paper-like material.
 50. A method as defined in claim 49 wherein said layer of carrier material has a thickness less than 0.0005 inch.
 51. The method of claim 49 wherein said step of stripping comprises shearing said film of carrier material from said base sheet.
 52. The method of claim 49 wherein said step of stripping comprises peeling said film of carrier material from said base sheet.
 53. A business form article comprising: a plurality of paper-like sheets arranged in superposed relation and including a pressure-transmittable upper sheet and a lower receptor sheet, a layer of pressure-sensitive image transfer material, film means for releasably bonding said layer of image transfer material to one of said sheets and for supporting said layer of image transfer material in direct adjacent relation to said one sheet, said film means being strippable from said one sheet for releasing said image transfer material therefrom, and said image transfer material being transferable in image Formation to said lower receptor sheet contacting said image transfer material in response to a corresponding formation of pressure applied to said upper sheet. 